World Drugs Day: CADAM raises awareness against the use of dangerous Drugs

A non-governmental organisation, Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry (CADAM), has raised the alarm over the rising number of youths involved in drug abuse.

Describing the trend as worrisome, CADAM, which held an awareness walk yesterday in Lagos to mark the 2017 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, said Nigeria is the Eighth highest consumer of cannabis in the world.

The foundation’s national coordinator, Dr Dokun Adedeji, while calling on the public to join in the fight against drug and substance abuse, linked the rise in youth-initiated crimes and violence to the rising alarming trend.

Adedeji said: “Some of the available statistics will frighten us – we are the eighth highest consumer of cannabis in the world! It is known that about 25 per cent of the youth have at one time or the other, used and abused drugs. But more Nigerian youths are abusing drug in alarming rate.

“As we join the world to mark this day, we are hoping to be joined by prominent Nigerians from all walks of life in raising this much-needed awareness. The time has come for every one of us to wake from our slumber, nonchalance or denial. As we walk against drug today, we are saying drug destroy homes, families and lives; they kill and are a threat to our nation and people.”

The walk, which began MITV Compound, moved through Shoprite and then into Lateef Jakande Road branching at LTV and Cadbury Nigeria Plc, before ending at the premises of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Regional Region 19 Headquarters on Acme Road, Ikeja.